Russian Minister admits providing a $1-billion loan to Belarus

Russia could grant a loan to Belarus to balance the budget, the Finance Minister of Russia, Anton Siluanov, told reporters in Moscow.

“Our presidents held a meeting and discussed financial cooperation, the issues of lending. We are currently working on this. An interstate loan of up to $1 billion intended for the support of budget and balance of payments is being worked out,” - Anton Siluanov said.

Earlier, the Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister, Vladimir Semashko, noted that the Russian loan could be granted “on good terms”. Following the meeting with Vladimir Putin on the 3rd of April, Alexander Lukashenko announced that Russia was ready to refinance the debt of the Republic of Belarus.